Jordan defeated South Korea 2-0 in the semi-final of the Asian Cup on Tuesday at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. Yazan Al-Naimat and Musa Al-Taamari both scored goals in the second half, leading Jordan to their first appearance in the final.
The outcome was a surprising defeat for Jordan, who are positioned at 87th in the global rankings, while South Korea holds the title of the third strongest team in Asia, placing 64 spots above them. Al-Naimat had previously scored in the 2-2 tie during the group stage and, once again, the 24-year-old was the main source of trouble with his quick footwork. Al-Taamari’s relentless running also paid off.
During the first half with no goals scored, Al-Naimat had a prime chance to score for Jordan. He evaded three defenders in the penalty area, but his shot was aimed directly at goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo who quickly saved it.
On the opposite side, Lee Jae-sung almost scored for South Korea after Son Heung-min delivered a cross into the box. However, his header hit the post, giving Jordan a break.
However, Jordan eventually made a significant advancement when Al-Taamari intercepted a weak pass in the middle of the field and sent a precise pass to Al-Naimat, who then chipped the ball over the goalkeeper and scored his third goal of the tournament.
Al-Taamari was the most active player on the field and he chose the perfect moment to show his skills. He dribbled past a stationary defense and skillfully placed the ball past the goalkeeper, causing excitement among Jordan’s fans in the crowd of 42,850.
Jurgen Klinsmann, the coach of South Korea, was unable to counter Jordan’s aggressive and dynamic offensive strategy. He stood on the sidelines with a stoic expression, as his team was eliminated from the tournament without managing to land a single shot on goal in the semi-finals.
South Korea had developed a tendency to score late goals in the competition, but this time there was no comeback as Jordan successfully prevented them from scoring, securing their spot in the final. In the final, they will play against either Iran or the host and reigning champions, Qatar.
Source: theguardian.com
